Lighting fixture



Jan. 11, 1927. 1,614,163

0. H. VAN AMBERG LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Jan. 1921 Inventor Otto H .Van Amberg His Attorney Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

umrsn STATES PATENTOFFICE.

OTTO H. VAN AMBERG, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LIGHTING FIXTURE.

Application filed January 28, 1921. Serial No. 440,780.

The present invention relates to lighting a fixtures such as side wall brackets, ceiling brackets and the like which are used in houses and other buildings for supporting electric 5 lamps or similar devices, and particularly to fixtures of the character which comprises a wall portion having a plug receptacle permanently wired to the lighting circuit and a bracket portion which is permanently wired and is adapted to both mechanically and electrically connected to and detached from the plug receptacle as a unit.

The objectof my invention is to provide an improved structure and arrangement in 15 an apparatus of this character, and for a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying description and the claims appended thereto. r 20 In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in'section of a lighting fixture emodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a -front view thereof, the canopy being shown in section; Fig. 3 is a faceview of the wall portion of the fixture; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1v of amodification and Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are detail views of bracket portions of,

the fixture. which are common to the modificat-ions shown in both Figs. 1. and 4.

Referring to the drawing, the wall portion of the fixture comprises a face plate 10 having a central opening 11 behind which is fixed a plug receptacle 12'by means of the screws 13. In plug receptacle 12 are the usual openings 18 in line with which are electrical contacts 14 to which the circuit wiresrare connected. Plate 10 is adapted to be fastened to the wall in any suitable manner, for example, it may be fastened to a suitable out-let box (not shown) by means of screws 15, the outlet box in turn being fastenedin the wall and serving to house the receptacle 12.

The foregoing arrangement may be taken as typical of any suitable plug receptacle structure adapted to be mounted on a wall and as is clear, it is adapted to receive an ordinary plug such as is used in connecting a lead wire. In general face plate 10 is mounted flush with the surface of the wall.

According to my invention, I provide face plate with two or more slots or openings 16 located adjacent its upper edge, and in connection with the plug receptacle I provide openings 13 with extensions 13 which project downwardly a suitable distance. I then provide a combined bracket support and plug provided with arms which engage with openings 16 and contacts adapted to be brought into engagement with the plug re-' ceptacle contacts by a swinging movement. The combined b-racket'support and plug comprises a mounting block 17 of insulating. material to which are attached spaced contacts 18. Contacts 18 pass through openings in the mounting block and at their. inner ends are provided with flat heads 19 which lie in recesses 20 in the mounting block. The contacts are fastened in place by suitable 1 rivets 21 and in heads19 are binding screws: 70 22 adjacent which are grooves 23 for the lead wires. Fastened to the mounting'block on the side opposite tocontacts 18 is a metal plate 24 having a central. boss 25 provided with a threaded opening 26. Plate 24may 1 be made of brass or other suitable material and is fastened in place by screws 27, an insulating plate 28 being located between plate 24 and block 17 to cover heads 19 and binding screws 22 to protect them from contact with plates 24. g v At its upper end plate 24 is bent at a right angle across the end of mounting block 17 to form a flat end 29 and projecting from the edge of end 29 are two arms 30 having bent in ends 31 adapted to engage in openings 16 inface plate 10. Fixed on flat end 29 is a finger 32 located midway between but spaced forwardly of arms 30.

In Figs. 1 and 2, 33 indicates a canopy having a transverse strip 34 across its back which strip is adapted to take between arms 80 and finger'32 to support the canopy on the combined plug and support. Connected to canopy is a bracket, 35 at the outer end of which may be located a lamp receptacle. Extending through bracket 35 are lead wires 36 connected at one end to binding posts 22 and at the other to the lamp receptacle.

In use the bracket 1s wired as a unit and 199 tensions of the receptacle openings;

when it is desired to connect it to a receptacle, the combined plug and supporting member is held at an angle to face plates 10 and the ends 31 of arm 30 are inserted into slots 16. The plug is then pushed toward the face plate, pivoting on the edges of slots 16. During this movement contacts 18 swing through extensions 13 into openings 13 and into engagement with contacts 14. When the plug engages the face plate, contacts 18 are in engagement with contacts 14 to form the electrical connection, and the ends 31 of arms 30 are in engagement with the rear side of the face plate. The canopy is then slid into place with cross strip 34 behind finger 32. The fixture is thus quickly and easily put into position and when in position is firmly held. The arms 30 support the weight of the bracket the contacts being relieved of any strains. Since the support for the canopy is above the plug, the weight of the fixture tends to hold the plug against the face plate and an up ward push on the fixture is not likely to separate the contacts. To remove the fixture it is only necessary to slide the canopy upward to release it from fingers 23 after which it may be moved to on side and the plug pulled out.

In Fig. 1, I haveshown an arrangement wherein the bracket 40, corresponding to bracket 35 of Fig. 1 is supported by the com bined plug and supporting member. To this end an adapter 4.1 is screwed into opening 26 and bracket 4-0 is connected to it by a coupling 42. The canopy 43 is then supported on the bracket.

It is to be noted, furthermore, that by my invention I modify existing structures but little. In the case of the wall portion of the fixture it is only necessary to provide the additional openings in the face plate and exthe case of the hanging portion of the fixture of any existing structure may be modified by supplying in connection with it the combined plug and supporting member.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means. 7

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is z- 1. In a fixture, the combination with a plug receptacle having a face plate provided with a slot at its upper end, said receptacle having elongated contact openings of a combined plug and supporting member comprising a mounting block, an arm the end of which is adapted to engage said face plate slot, and contacts fixed to said block and adapted to pass angularly into the elongated contact openings in said receptacle when the arm is engaged with the slot.

2. In a fixture, the combination with a plug receptacle having a face plate provided with a plurality of spaced slots at its upper end, said receptacle having elongated contact openings, of a combined plug and supporting member comprising a mounting block, spaced arms the ends of which are adapted to engage said face plate slots, and contacts fixed to said block and adapted to pass angularly into the elongated contact openings in said receptacle when the arms are engaged with the slots.

3. In a fixture, the combination with a plug receptacle having a face plate provided with a slot at its upper end, said receptacle having elongated contact openings, of a com bined plug and supporting member comprising a mounting block, anarm fixed to r the supporting member and having an'end adapted to engage said face plate slot, contacts fixed to said plug and adapted to pass angularly into the elongated contact openings in the receptacle, when the arm is engaged with the slot, and a lighting fixture carried by said member, said fixture being wired to the contacts on the plug and mechanically supported by the supporting member.

4.111 a fixture, the combination with a plug receptacle having a face plate provided with a plurality of spaced slots at its upper end, said receptacle having elongated contact openings, with a combined plug and supporting member comprising a mountlng block, a plurality of spaced arms fixed to the supporting member the ends of said arms being adapted to engage said face plate slots, contacts fixed to said plug and adapted to pass angularly into the elongated (mm tact openings in said receptacle when the arms are engaged with the slots, and means for attaching a lighting fixture to said member. 7

5. The combination with a face plate having an opening adjacent one end, a recep tacle associated with the face plate and provided with openings, and contacts in line therewith, of a combined support and plug member comprising a metal plate having a projecting arm, an insulating mounting block fastened to the plate and contacts carried by said block. said projecting arm being adapted to be inserted through the opening in the face plate and the member then turned to bring the plug contacts into engagement with the receptacle contacts.

6. The combination with a face plate having an opening adjacent one end, a receptacle associated with the face plate and provided with openings and contacts in line therewlth, of a combined support and plug bud member comprising a metal plate having a gagement With the receptacle contacts, a projecting arm, an insulating mountin threaded opening in said metal plate adaptblock fastened to the plate, contacts carrie ed to receive a fixture, and a canopy mp 10 by said block, said projecting arm being porting projection on said metal plate.

5 adapted to be inserted through the open- In witness whereof, I have hereunto set ing in the face plate and the member then my hand this 26th day of January, 1921. turned to bring the plug contacts into en- 7 OTTO H. VAN AMBERG. 

